Cougars come up empty against the Rebels

For the fifth time this season the Prince George Cougars failed to score.

Riley Lamb stopped 25 shots for his first shutout of the season in helping the Red Deer Rebels skunk the Cougars 4-0 before a Family Day crowd of 3,071 at CN Centre.

It capped off a frustrating weekend home-stand for the Cougars, who lost 3-2 (Friday) and 4-2 (Saturday) against the Kamloops Blazers.

Prince George did not score a third period goal in either of the three games.

“We are getting chances, it’s just a matter of them not going in right now,” said Cougars coach Richard Matvichuk on the 94.3 the Goat post-game show.

Brandon Hagel set up all four goals for the (18-26-10-3) Rebels, who are 8-1-2 in the last 11.

Red Deer is just two points behind Kootenay for third place and a playoff spot in the Central Division.

The Cougars league worst power play went 0-for-3, including a two-man advantage for a span of 1:43 late in the first period.

The Rebels were 2-for-3 on the PP.

It was the 9th straight game the Cougars failed to score the first goal.

“We go out everyday and we put a game plan together, we put execution together. When it comes together, it is just going to build. It’s like building a house, we’ve got the foundation built now. We put up one wall at a time, then we add the windows and next we will put the roof on, and then we will be ready to go,” stated Matvichuk.

The (19-30-4-4) Cougars, who have just two wins in their last 13, play their next four on the road starting Saturday in Kamloops.

They also visit Kelowna on Tuesday the 20th, Spokane on the 23rd and Tri-City on the 24th, before returning home against the Rockets on February 27th & 28th.